Early morning at the active Erta Ale volcano, in north-eastern Ethiopia within the Danakil Depression, the hottest place on Earth and the third lowest point. By this time the lava lake below was significantly less active and far cooler than a few hours prior when it was bubbling and exploding all over.

The evening Sun reflects off the shallow layer of water that sits on top of the salt flats in the Danakil Depression in North-Eastern Ethiopia.

One of the lowest places on Earth ( [−125 m (−410 ft)], and also one of the hottest (average year round 36 degrees C), the Danakil Depression is a place of extremes. When the Sun begins to set though, so does the temperature and the reflections off what used to be part of the Red Sea millions of years ago reflects the cloudless sky on this volcanic and tectonically active landscape.

The active Erta Ale Volcano in the Danakil Depression near the end of sunrise.

From Wikipedia: "Erta Ale (or Ertale or Irta'ale) is a continuously active basaltic shield volcano in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia. It is situated in the Afar Depression, a badland desert area spanning the border with Eritrea. Erta Ale is the most active volcano in Ethiopia.

Erta Ale is 613 metres (2,011 ft) high, with one or sometimes two active lava lakes at the summit which occasionally overflow on the south side of the volcano.[1] It is notable for holding the longest-existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century (1906). Volcanoes with lava lakes are very rare: there are only six in the world.
Erta Ale means "smoking mountain" in the local Afar language and its southernmost pit is known locally as "the gateway to Hell". In 2009, it was mapped by a team from the BBC using three-dimensional laser techniques, in order for the mapping team to maintain a distance and avoid the lakes' searingly hot temperatures.

Erta Ale is centered over the east African rift system, which is a triple junction setting whose movements are resulting in the formation of a pull apart basin or rift. The volcano comprises mainly Mafic material which has been brought up to the surface caused by unroofing of the mantle due to this rift formation.[citation needed]
Not much is known about Erta Ale, as the surrounding terrain is some of the most inhospitable on Earth and the native Afar people have a legendary reputation for viciousness towards outsiders; one travel guide recommends hiring "one or maybe two armed guards or police" to visit Erta Ale."

From Wikipedia: "(Amharic: Bete Giyorgis?) is one of eleven monolithic churches in Lalibela, a city in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Originally named Roha or Warwar, this historical and religious site is currently accepted in the modern name of Lalibela, after King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of Ethiopia, who is regarded as a saint-like figure by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church."

"Carved from a variation of Limestone, Tufa is the primary and only building material used in the rock-cut structure. In the 12th century, it is the best known and last built of the eleven churches in the Lalibela area, and has been referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Lalibela, King of Ethiopia, sought to recreate Jerusalem, and structured the churches' landscape and religious sites in such a way as to achieve such a feat. “The churches at Lalibela are clustered in two major groups, one representing the earthly Jerusalem, and the other representing the heavenly Jerusalem. Located directly between them is a trench representing the River Jordan”. The dimensions of the trench are 25 meters by 25 meters by 30 meters, and there is a small baptismal pool outside the church, which stands in an artificial trench.
According to Ethiopian cultural history, Bete Giyorgis was built after King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty had a vision in which he was instructed to construct the church; Saint George and God have both been referred to as the one who gave him the instructions.
Lalibela is a pilgrimage site for members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church; the church itself is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela"."

Every trekker through the wonderful Simien Mountain's national park must be accompanied by at least a guard or 'scout' who tends to stay behind and watch over things. Carrying what looked like an unloaded Ak-47 for some reason and dressed in a suit jacket, our older-aged scout was much more effective at coughing and wheezing his way though the canyon laden landscape than being of any practical benefit to defend us if something were to go weary.

Truthfully I haven't heard of any robberies or other foul play around these parts and I would guess that mandatory scouts are being used as a local community builder and job creator for the relatively impoverished people of the highlands. Nevertheless his services weren't expensive and you're helping the local community while getting the wonderful opportunity to hike this beautiful land and take the occasional photo with him in it.

Exploring the Salt Flats in Northern Ethiopia and the Hottest Place on Earth

North-eastern Ethiopia contains one of the great natural wonders of the world, the salt flats of the Danakil Depression! Similar to the more famous Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the Danakil also boasts a giant reflective salt pan, the former vestige of the Red Sea before splitting away millions of years earlier.

The landscape is absolutely wild in these parts, especially as it's extremely geologically active with plenty of active volcanoes nearby including the famous Erta Ale Volcano (for which I have many photos of in my photostream). The adventure doesn't stop there though as the Danakil Depression is located within the hottest area on Earth and one of it's lowest points.

To get to this extreme, otherworldly environment, you'll have to find yourself a tour company in either the capital Addis Ababa or better yet, from the largest nearby city of Mek'elle.

If views could kill... Maybe just maybe the best, most scenic park bench in the world? Easily my second best, next to another bench only a few hundred feet away with even more jaw dropping views. Both of which can be found at the Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia.

Pilgrims walk through the stone-basalt cut walkways through the 'Jerusalem' of Africa in holy Lalibela, Ethiopia.

During Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas, tens of thousands of pilgrims make their way to the holy ancient churches carved straight out of the stone. One has to traverse various paths and caves in order to move between each magnificent and still active church. See the rest of my Ethiopia album for photos of the churches themselves.

Taking a breather to admire the magnificent view among the tall plateaus and deep canyons in the Simien Mountains. Perched with my legs over a cliff that fell for a solid 200 meters, and sitting at an altitude of around 4100 metres or 13400 feet, the air was thin but the views were absolutely mighty. What a great place to hike.